Poist Naturals: Blog

Babies and me

(Poist Naturals) — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 17:03:45 GMT

I have been ignoring this site for almost a year. I'm not sure why. I am paying for it but it is doing nothing. However, I have added all my best pictures so what am I to do? Keep paying I guess. I have been busy in the year. I am now a licensed animal rehabber and I've had the pleasure of feeding and caring for baby squirrels, possums and raccoons. I assume some pictures will make it here eventually. I will be glad when the world is back to normal because I think everyone is affected by the ways things have been.

Quarantine Spring

(Poist Naturals) — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 19:51:39 GMT

I feel like I am going crazy. I am old and retired so I don't do much but I do enough to keep me busy. I was working on numerous volunteer opportunities such as promoting native planting, becoming a rehabber for homeless squirrels and other critters, becoming active in the birding community, saving kitties by spaying, neutering and releasing and anything else I could find. Then, BAM - quarantine. Now I can just look at the forest and yard and search for some small photographic miracle. The flowers are just coming out, the forest is bone dry, the frogs haven't returned and the only interesting (NOT) insect was the mosquito devouring my arm. I guess we will all come out of this. I am going to go sneak to the beach one day soon. Virginia Love

Winter time Blues

(Poist Naturals) — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 21:02:25 GMT

We are now in the dark days of winter (except it is 50 degrees!). I keep seeing small signs of spring and it lifts my heart. I want the animals and birds to become more active and babies to be produced. I miss my flowers....My johnny jump ups keep me focused. They are blooming for all they are worth. The new baby Camilla bush had one red flower that faded fast. My buttercups are still coming up here and there.

Almost Christmas

(Poist Naturals) — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 19:39:54 GMT

Well, it is almost Christmas and this one will be different. I have always relied on my mother to tell me things will be alright and give me guidance. It feels like I'm on my own for the very first time. My kids are all spread out and it is hard trying to get together. My arthritis is working overtime and I'm going above the pain as usual. Today is the first real cold day we have had here and it is only going to last another 24 hours and temperatures will be back in the fifties. I haven't been out shooting much lately. I am still waiting for a sale from this site and getting discouraged. I keep spending money and getting no feedback. I have edited the site today and hopefully it is better.

December

(Poist Naturals) — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 00:52:11 GMT

I am excited that it is December. I love to put up my decorations and I love the winter beach. This is the time for winter birds. I think I am getting much better at naming duck species! It hasn't been cold enough to put down my flowers and I love seeing them mixed in with the leaves.

October

(Poist Naturals) — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 01:25:48 GMT

The frogs are dying down, the dragonflies and butterflies have mostly migrated and the mushrooms are a flop because of the late summer drought. I think it may be time to go to the shore!! I need to find some interesting things to shoot (with my camera!!)

Summer Blahs

(Poist Naturals) — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 17:59:48 GMT

The oppressive heat outside is too hot for everything. The birds are silent, as are the frogs. Even the insects seem to flock to the hose when I water my wilted plants. I am eagerly awaiting fall when I can actually wander around again. I don't even want to go to the ocean!!! Very few new pictures lately but I am trying to set up my shop with lots of potential christmas gifts!!

Return to life

(Poist Naturals) — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 17:55:48 GMT

I am attempting to return to life after the death of my mother. It was my mother that taught me to love nature. It was my uncle Mike that taught me nature was not just birds and squirrels. I am enamored with the beauty in insects and the peaceful grace of the reptiles and amphibians. I remember bringing my mother a large king snake in a trash can when I was around 8. She oohed and aahed and then threw it back out. I remember collecting toads with my sister and putting them in the tub. She refused to take a bath for awhile. After mom's death, I found bugs in vials that she had saved for her grandkids. She only collected the dead ones, lol.

She said I ruined her life by moving down to the shore because I left her. Now, she has surely destroyed my life by leaving me......

The frogs are back!

(Poist Naturals) — Wed, 29 May 2019 16:23:39 GMT

I can finally breathe again, the frogs are back. It seemed like forever before all the species were back in the pond. The bullfrogs and Leopards are jumping all over. I wish it were paradise but that serenity is often disrupted. My lovely felines pick frogs off the grass and railings, grab them off the bank as they leap into the pond, and generally cause chaos. "There goes Shrimp with a frog" is a common sentence. Shrimp has learned to take them and run like hell into the woods so she doesn't lose her catch. All three cats are very nearly ready to just go into the pond to catch them.

I am still learning on my quest to become my own version of an expert. Apparently the eye spot determines gender on bullfrogs! Who knew??

Boring Spring

(Poist Naturals) — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 21:32:55 GMT

Seaweed giftSymmetry I spent a boring morning at the beach not catching much more than sunburn. The beach was packed with people who should be home on a Tuesday morning in April. I did find some interesting seaweed bayside. The birds were all hunkered down, crabs were silent. Reptiles are not fully out of hibernation, fungi is absent. What is a person to do???

Fungi dilemma

(Poist Naturals) — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:21:55 GMT

After spending many more hours than I'm willing to admit, I can only comfortably name a few mushrooms. I can usually tell a turkey tail (but there are false ones!) and I'm reasonably sure about the honey mushrooms but the rest.... I now know that I will need to look harder at the fungi before I take a picture. What is it growing on? What is it underside? How does cap connect? What is under the ground? I am a teacher and I know how to learn so I'm going back to square one. I have a rough idea of basic types of fungi - shelf, bracket, bolete - but just a rough idea. I need to go to the evolutionary tree and start at the beginning to get an idea of phylum and classes. I can do this. In the meanwhile, feel free to correct any mistake I have made. I'm sure I have some!

Website Woes

(Poist Naturals) — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 17:09:18 GMT

I am not able to take pictures until I'm done with this website!! That is a vow I'm making to myself. I have hundreds of photos and I feel like an American Idol judge. I put all the pictures together and weed out the best, then I add more and weed. Finally I have my best group but there are thirteen Great Blue Herons. Now I weed out just that set. ARGH. It has been days and I'm just about done with birds and insects. I haven't worked on fungi or amphibians yet barely at all. At this rate, I may be done before the summer arrives. Or not.......

Setting up

(Poist Naturals) — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 17:05:12 GMT

I am finally working on a website to showcase my photography. I usually take pictures every day now. Sometimes I leave with a purpose in mind (find ducks) and sometimes I just find myself in a wonderland of unexpected visions. Being retired means that I have multiple empty spaces in my life that need filling and how better than being in the woods crawling around looking for miniature wonders?? I hope you enjoy my pictures and, if inspired, purchase one. I once spent my entire bonus on a painting of rocks; much to my husbands wonderment. I still, years later, wake up to that painting and every morning it brings a smile to my face! This painting inspired my rock photos. I find way too much joy in rocks, fungi and insects!!